Sophia’s POVI took a deep breath, the scent of fresh paint and construction materials filling my lungs. It felt amazing to be standing here again, at the site of Daniel's real estate development. My designs were finally coming to life, and it was like watching a dream unfold before my eyes. Every corner, every detail—exactly as I had envisioned.After an hour of going around and conferring with the architect on site, I was ready to go back to my office. As I reached the parking area, I thought about Daniel and wondered what he was doing now. He and I used to be so close. We’d share our dreams and frustrations, and now, after so many weeks of silence, it felt strange to be here without him. He still hasn’t returned, nor has he tried to contact me since he sent me an email greeting before my wedding. I shook my head, trying to push away the feeling of wistfulness. “Just focus on the project,” I muttered to myself, smiling at the progress.As I turned to head back to my car, my heart n
Emily’s POVI woke up with that familiar wave of nausea, but it was nothing new. Morning sickness had become an old friend since I’d found out about the baby. I grumbled as I sat up in bed, trying to shake off the dizziness. I was still basking in the afterglow of my recent win—first prize in the costume design competition. It had been unexpected and thrilling, and my heart still fluttered with pride every time I thought about it.Shuffling into the kitchen, I prepared a quick breakfast, my mind already replaying the congratulatory messages I’d received over the past few days. With a half-eaten slice of toast in one hand and my phone in the other, I sat at the kitchen table, scrolling through social media. The news about my win was everywhere, but I stopped cold when I saw the latest headline: “Design Contest Winner Accused of Plagiarism”.“What the—” I exclaimed, my voice coming out as a strangled whisper. My heart raced as I tapped the article, my fingers trembling slightly.The
Sophia’s POVThe accusations against Emily had shaken us all, and we were on a mission to gather every piece of evidence we could. We all gathered in an empty studio inside the Raven Media complex. Chris was rubbing Emily’s back, trying to offer solace. “Okay, we need to get everything together,” I said, setting down my bag and pulling out the stack of design sketches Kayla and I had gathered from Emily’s office. Kayla immediately joined me, her fingers flying over her phone as she reviewed photos of Emily’s process and other relevant materials. “I’d taken several photos of Emily’s process and progress since she’d mostly worked here.” “I think I have some on my phone too,” Chris said, his face lighting up. “I have photos of fabrics and accessories that I’d searched for and I also have emails I’d sent to suppliers when I was helping source some of the materials. Let me send them now to you, Kayla.”“Great!” Kayla answered. Emily began to look more hopeful. “I have several on my ph
Emily’s POVSometimes it’s good to do a menial task when you’ve got so much in your mind. And I guess that's how I ended up walking through the supermarket despite the chaos in my mind. The empty shelves of my kitchen pantry had taunted me with their glaring emptiness, and my friends had kept reminding me to eat something. I reached for a jar of pasta sauce, but my fingers hovered over it as I ruminated on the recent plagiarism scandal. The more I thought about it, the more my anger simmered. Isabelle’s name alone made my blood boil. I wanted to bury her alive, to strangle the life out of her for all the trouble she’d caused me. Bitter thoughts coiled around my mind, tightening with each passing moment. God, I absolutely hate her. Why is she doing this? I’m not even meeting up with Antoine! I’ve divorced him, for Christ’s sake. She can have him. I dragged my cart down the aisle, trying to force my focus onto the task at hand, but my thoughts kept sliding back to the endless mess
Emily’s POVThe week that followed felt like a dream I couldn’t quite believe was real. Every day brought a new interview, another opportunity to share my story, and more excitement as my designs—and my name—were plastered across magazines, TV screens, and the internet. It felt like a dream, but it was admittedly exhilarating. The attention was overwhelming at times too, yet it was the kind of attention I’d always longed for. To top it all off, a major international clothing company reached out, inviting me to create a series of designs for their upcoming collection. When I received that email, I could hardly contain my excitement. This is the perfect validation of everything I’d worked so hard for—a chance to show the world what I could do on a grand scale!In the midst of all the excitement, I knew I needed to do something to show my appreciation for the friends who had stood by me through the darkest times. I decided to host a simple dinner party, a way to say thank you for their
Emily’s POV"To you, Emily," Chris said softly, his eyes meeting mine with genuine warmth as he raised his glass to me. We each held a mocktail in a wine glass. I looked up, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. We stood on the patio, the night air cool and refreshing, the soft glow of the porch lights casting a serene ambiance around us. The small dinner party had settled down, the earlier liveliness replaced by a cozy calm. Elijah and Sophia had disappeared upstairs to put Reese to bed, and Connor and Kayla were tucked away in one corner of the living room, deep in an intimate conversation.“I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished,” Chris continued. “The way you’ve handled everything… it’s inspiring. Your resilience, your strength—it’s something to admire.”The warmth in his words and the way his eyes held mine made my heart flutter. I felt a rush of emotions that I couldn’t quite put into words. I clinked my glass against his, feeling a bit flustered by the intensity of
Emily’s POV“Antoine!” I gasped, my heart leaping into my throat as I rushed to Chris’s side, instinctively shielding him with my body. “What are you doing?”Antoine’s eyes blazed with anger as he pointed at Chris, his chest heaving with rage. “Stay away from her, you hear me? You don’t deserve her! And she is still mine!”Chris, still reeling from the punch, straightened up, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. He looked at Antoine with a mix of confusion and defiance, but he didn’t retaliate.“Antoine, stop it!” I said, my voice shaking with both fear and anger. “This isn’t the way to handle things.”The evening, which had felt so perfect just moments ago, had taken a sudden and violent turn, and I didn’t know what to do. The tension in the air was thick as I tried to make sense of what had just happened. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my emotions a chaotic blend of fear, anger, and confusion. Just as I opened my mouth to say something, Elijah came
Sophia’s POVI awoke to the tantalizing aroma of something delicious wafting through the house. My groggy mind struggled to process the scent as I stretched and rubbed my eyes. It was the kind of smell that promised a good day, and my curiosity got the better of me.When I got into the kitchen, still in my pajamas, my heart skipped a beat at the sight before me. There, standing by the stove in a bright red apron that was way too big for him, was Elijah. His hair was a bit tousled, and he was intently focused on something sizzling in the pan. I couldn't help but chuckle as I took in the scene."What on earth are you doing?" I teased, unable to suppress my laughter.Elijah looked up, his eyes widening in mock surprise. "Well, you caught me," he said with a sheepish grin. "I wanted to surprise you and make breakfast."My heart melted at the sight of him like this—so charming and endearing. I walked over to him, still giggling. "You don’t know how to cook, and that’s okay. I love you none
Sophia’s POVA hush of golden light slipped through the curtains, draping the room in warmth and calm. It felt like the kind of morning that only came after surviving the storm.Weeks had passed since the chaos faded, and for once, the quiet didn’t feel temporary—it felt earned. I stirred slowly, eyes drifting open to find Elijah beside me, his hand resting lightly over mine. I studied him in the silence, taking in the softened edges of a man who’d carried us through fire and finally found peace.I leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek. His eyes fluttered open, and when they focused on me, he smiled sleepily."Morning," he murmured."Morning," I whispered back, letting my fingers trace the line of his jaw. "Can you believe we actually get to wake up like this? No chaos, no danger—just us."He pulled me closer and kissed my forehead. "I could get used to this."Just as I was about to say something, the door burst open."Mommy! Daddy!" Reese called out, followed quickly by Roxy an
Elijah’s POVWe weaved through the cracked streets, deeper into a part of the city that felt like time had forgotten it. Boarded-up windows, rusted signage, buildings collapsing in on themselves. This was the kind of place where ghosts lingered, and today, we were chasing one of them."We’re close," Joe muttered from the front seat, his eyes scanning the GPS on his phone. "This is the last possible location that fits Hugo's hideouts."Antoine sat beside me in the back, silent but focused. His jaw was tight, hands clenched. I still didn’t know if I fully trusted him, but I couldn’t deny this: he was here, risking his neck like the rest of us. And right now, I’d take any edge we could get.I have to find Grandpa George. For Sophia.When we pulled up to the burned-out remains of what once looked like a chapel, a chill shot down my spine. The stone structure still stood, half-charred, the wooden beams above blackened and skeletal. Nature had tried to reclaim it—vines curling around scorch
Elijah’s POV“Sophia…”Her name was the only thing in my mind as I stormed through the decaying hallway, boots slamming against rotting wood, gun drawn. My pulse thundered in my ears. The floor creaked beneath every step, but I didn’t slow down. I couldn’t.Joe and his men fanned out behind me, covering corners, checking every room.We were running out of time.Then—A scream.My heart nearly stopped. It was her.I charged forward, slamming my shoulder into the door at the end of the hall. It burst open—and I saw red.Morgana was on the ground, gasping for air as Hugo’s hand squeezed her throat, and across the room, Sophia was trying to drag herself toward them, her face pale and streaked with tears.“NO!” I shouted, and without hesitation, I raised my gun.Hugo turned just as I fired.The bullet tore through his shoulder. He howled, stumbling back and releasing Morgana, who crumpled to the floor, coughing violently.I crossed the room in three strides and tackled Hugo before he could
Sophia’s POVThe first thing I felt was cold.A biting chill that wrapped around my arms and legs like a second set of restraints. Then came the pressure—tight, scratchy ropes cutting into my wrists. My head pounded like a drum, fog thick behind my eyes. Everything smelled like mildew and dust.My eyes struggled to make sense of the shadows.The room was dim, lit only by a weak bulb overhead that flickered like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to stay on. I was on a metal chair, hands tied behind my back, ankles secured to the legs. The air tasted stale and old, like the walls had been sealed off from the world for decades.Panic bloomed in my chest.My brother Chris. What had become of him?I jerked forward, straining against the ropes. “Chris!” I called, my voice hoarse and raw. “Where is he?!”I noticed some movement in the darkness. A shadow stirred in the corner of the room. I froze as a figure stepped out into the light. Tall. Gray-streaked beard. Sunken eyes like old coals. A d
Sophia’s POV“This is insane,” Elijah muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. “We’re relying on Antoine to lead us to Hugo. Does no one else see how crazy that is?”Joe, who had been checking messages on his phone, barely looked up. “We don’t have another choice.”I watched Elijah pace the room, his frustration clear. He wasn’t wrong, but I knew that if there was even the smallest chance of finding Grandpa George, we had to take it.Joe sighed and turned to Antoine. “You sure you can make him bite?”Antoine shrugged. “I know Hugo. He’s a cockroach—he won’t go down without a fight. But if he thinks his last hiding spot is compromised, he’ll make a move. That’s when we strike.”Elijah muttered something under his breath, but I didn’t catch it. Joe’s phone buzzed. As he studied the screen, he said, “We got something. Two possible locations.”Elijah straightened. “Then let’s move.”They all hurried out, and I had the sudden, overwhelming urge to call Elijah back—to make sure he’d pick up
Sophia’s POVMy mother sat on the couch, clutching Grandma Evelyn’s hands, trying to calm her down. My father stood near the window, staring out into the darkness, his face pale and unreadable.Chris and Connor were huddled over a laptop at the dining table, analyzing security footage.Joe was already there, speaking into his phone, barking orders to his contacts.But no one had any answers yet.And Grandpa George was still missing.I turned to my grandmother, kneeling in front of her. “Grandma—did you see anything? Anyone suspicious? A car, a stranger?”Her red-rimmed eyes filled with fresh tears as she shook her head. “No… nothing. I don’t know how this happened.” Her voice broke. “George was just in his study… and then he was gone.”Elijah placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me, but I could feel the rage simmering beneath his calm exterior. He wasn’t just worried—he was furiousJust then, Chris snapped his fingers at the screen. “We’ve got something.”Connor turned the laptop t
Sophia’s POVWe had been trying to track down both Antoine and Hugo, but they had vanished like ghosts.No leads. No sightings. Nothing.Lucas had called me earlier, still searching, still digging. Even Elijah and his contacts have been working doubly hard. But so far, they’d come up empty too. It was frustrating—knowing the danger was out there, lurking, waiting for the right moment to strike.But tonight…Tonight, we weren’t going to think about it.Tonight, we were here to celebrate.After all, Lila and Adrian’s joint concert was finally happening. This was their moment, their dream unfolding before them.And for the first time in what felt like forever, we were all together, enjoying something good.Kayla was everywhere at once, her headset on, clipboard in hand, barking last-minute instructions into her earpiece. She was stressed, frantic… but glowing. Even though there could have been other people to take care of all this from her company, she wanted to be in charge, to personal
Emily’s POV“Walk away, Hugo,” Antoine said sharply, stepping in front of us as if to shield us from the strange man.The name triggered a memory.Chris had mentioned it just yesterday—Hugo Tournier. Suddenly, I remembered. It’s the name Sophia and Elijah had been trying to track down. The man who had supposedly changed Sophia’s life forever.And now he’s here. Why?!My hands instinctively balled up as my heart slammed against my ribs. Could this really be the same man?Hugo’s expression darkened with satisfaction as he took another step, exuding an air of quiet arrogance.“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth but laced with something sinister. “You’re not as fun outside of prison, Antoine.”Phoebe’s grip on my wrist tightened. “Emily, let’s go,” she muttered under her breath.I wanted to. Every instinct screamed at me to turn and leave. But I couldn’t—not yet.Hugo came forward, his eyes staring straight at me. He gave a low chuckle, mocking. “It’s interesting to meet Sabrina Ba
Emily’s POVI refused to flinch. Even as Antoine stood in front of me, blocking my way, I forced my body to stay still, to stay firm.I squared my shoulders, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. “Move.”Antoine didn’t budge. His gaze shifted between me and Phoebe, like he wasn’t sure if I’d actually listen or turn and run.“I’m not here to fight,” he said, his voice calm. “I just want to talk.”Phoebe’s grip on my arm tightened, and her anger was immediate, sharp.“Oh, hell no,” she snapped. “What are you even doing here? Haven’t you caused enough trouble?”I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to stay calm. I wasn’t going to let him see me feeling nervous or affected by him. Antoine exhaled, his face unreadable. “I just wanted to talk.”Phoebe laughed coldly. “Talk? You took Jared, Antoine. Without permission. Do you have any idea what you put us through?”“I know,” he admitted. “I made a mistake.”Phoebe scoffed. “A mistake?”I stepped forward, my gaze hardening. “Please, Antoine.